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The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed significant concern over the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa, citing high case counts in several countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burundi, and Uganda. As of December 15, the continent has reported 13,769 confirmed cases across 20 countries, resulting in 60 deaths.
The DRC remains the epicenter of the outbreak, accounting for 9,513 confirmed cases—the majority of infections on the continent. While recent weeks have seen a relatively stable epidemic trend in the DRC, the WHO cautioned against interpreting this plateau as a sign of improvement, citing potential delays in case reporting.
Adding to the complexity of the outbreak is the emergence of a new and poorly understood variant, clade 1b, which was first detected in the DRC in September 2023. This variant, characterized by a higher mortality rate of approximately 3.6%, has since spread beyond Africa, with cases identified in Sweden, Thailand, and six other non-African countries.
“Geographical expansion of clade 1b mpox virus (MPXV) continues to be reported outside the DRC,” the WHO noted in its report. This highlights the global implications of the outbreak, with increased transmissibility and sustainability of the variant still under investigation.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is caused by the monkeypox virus and is typically transmitted through physical contact with infected individuals, contaminated materials, or infected animals. Symptoms include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
In mid-August, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of continental security. Shortly afterward, the WHO escalated the disease to a public health emergency of international concern—the second time in two years the global health body has issued its highest level of alert for mpox.
The situation underscores the need for enhanced surveillance, rapid response measures, and international collaboration to curb the spread of mpox. Experts are calling for greater investment in public health systems across Africa to address the challenges posed by emerging variants like clade 1b and to mitigate the broader impact of the outbreak.
First identified in laboratory monkeys in 1958, mpox has historically been a rare viral disease. However, the current outbreak serves as a stark reminder of the potential for infectious diseases to escalate into global health emergencies.
